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MELD Solid-State Additive Manufacturing Company Launches New Generation of DragonForge Series Machines

September 21, 2025 Hardware MELD 54

MELD's new DragonForge series deposits aerospace-grade titanium and aluminum alloys for large components with forged-quality performance.

MELD Manufacturing holds over ten patents for its MELD technology—a truly novel metal fabrication process that requires no specialized chambers or vacuums. Unlike conventional methods that melt metals (leading to reduced strength and other issues), MELD technology imparts ductility without melting, producing stronger, higher-quality parts. This flexibility not only reduces equipment and costs but also offers scalability, enabling the fabrication of larger, superior, and faster-produced components compared to other processes.

MELD Introduces Next-Generation DragonForge Series MELD Machines
The DragonForge series integrates years of the company's hardware and software development expertise. CEO Nanci Hardwick stated, "This equipment truly represents a new generation of technology for rapidly 3D printing large aerospace components."

The newly launched system incorporates multiple process enhancements critical for printing high-quality aluminum alloys that meet aerospace application requirements—achieving or even surpassing current forging standards—with a focus on improving the performance and precision of AA7XXX series aluminum alloys such as 7075.

In addition to new hardware configurations, MELD has implemented several software features to enhance machine autonomy, user interactivity, and introduce robust new simulation and monitoring capabilities. Most notably, the introduction of digital twin technology creates a virtual replica of the physical machine. This digital twin functionality enables end-users to run code, simulate prints, and verify printing strategies before initiating physical printing. It allows operators to identify potential printing delays, optimize parameters, and maximize printing operations.

The industrialization of this metal printing technology with DragonForge printers represents a critical step toward enhancing domestic production capacity, shortening delivery cycles, reducing factory floor space, and decreasing energy consumption. This new production line offers unique opportunities for on-demand delivery of printed forgings, repair and replacement of legacy components, and manufacturing of critical parts to address forged metal shortages in supply chains. For aerospace, defense, and other industries reliant on aluminum and titanium alloys, where forged-quality components are essential, this solution enables parts to reach the market in weeks rather than months or years.

The DragonForge series is now available for MELD’s L3, K2, 3PO, and CD-14 systems.